For-profit colleges say they offer working adults and other non-traditional students access to a college degree and career, but the promise doesn’t always work out so great for students or taxpayers. Schools like ITT Tech, University of Phoenix, The Art Institutes and Kaplan are among those that advertise they give you the skills to get a job. Click here to watch this report on “For-Profit Colleges” by Dan Rather Reports.

There’s often no rhyme or reason when it comes to what hospitals charge for medical procedures. They can pretty much charge whatever they want to and do just that. The evidence comes in the form of widely varying rates charged for the same procedure in the same geographic area. ABC News examined the issue of inexplicable medical costs, while trying to help one family figure out how to save money on a tonsillectomy for their little boy. Click here to watch.

Ordinary working Americans don’t seem to have as much of a chance anymore at striking it rich. Over the past three decades, income disparity between the wealthy and middle class has exploded. That makes it much harder for average people to pursue the American dream and nearly impossible for the poor. Upward mobility in the United States is lagging far behind upward mobility in other industrialized countries. If you’re feeling it, it’s not your imagination. Click here to learn more and watch this fascinating documentary which is part of the “Why Poverty?” series: “Park Avenue: money, power and the American Dream”

Every year, Americans spend hundreds of billions of dollars on unnecessary medical tests and treatments. Often times, that care goes to the elderly and all taxpayers end up paying for it through Medicare. CBS News has been investigating Life Care Centers of America, one of the largest nursing home chains in the country, for allegedly over-billing Medicare for unnecessary patient rehab. Click here to watch this investigative report by CBS reporter Jeff Glore.

Written by Angie Moreschi · Filed Under CWN, Featured | Comments Off on Nursing Home Chain Accused of Overbilling for Excess Care

Many hospitals in your community no doubt enjoy tax exempt status because they are designated as non-profit. But what does that really mean? It’s not that they don’t make a profit, because they most likely do. The difference is these corporations are supposed to give back to their communities. Reporter Marni Jameson took a fascinating look at the issue in a front page story in the Orlando Sentinel. Click here to learn more about what she discovered.

The Internal Revenue Service is out with it’s annual list of the Dirty Dozen Tax Scams. Topping the list is “Identity Theft.” Coming in second is “phishing” and third is “Tax Preparer Fraud.” Click here for more information and to watch an interview from CNN Money.

We’ve heard about secret little charges being slipped into your phone bills, but now comes word that your credit card bills are being targeted, too. That prompted the Federal Trade Commission to issue a Consumer Alert. They call these mystery charges that appear on your bill “cramming,” and they can really add up, if you don’t catch them. ABC News Reporter Cecelia Vega filed this report on what you should look out for. Click here to watch.

If you’re ever in a pinch and need to get a bouquet of flowers quickly, those roadside flower stands can come in awfully handy. But just how well do they compare to flowers you buy from the florist or an online service? CWN’s Angie Moreschi decided to find out. Click here to see how cheap flowers compare to expensive ones.

If you’re a woman, you probably think the last thing that will happen to you is a heart attack. Think again. Heart disease is the number one killer of women.

Today is a day to raise your awareness on the warning signs. The American Heart Association developed its “Go Red for Women” campaign to help educate all women and those who love them about the warning signs of a heart attack. This video “It’s Just a Little Heart Attack” really hits home. It’s a must see. Click here to check it out!

Yes, it’s a new year. And we know, you’re hoping for a whole new YOU by finally starting to go to the gym. Good intentions for a great body aside, be careful when you sign up for that new gym membership. The fine print can come back to bite you in your newly firm butt. Consumer Reporter Liz Crenshaw of NBC4 in Washington explains in this report. Click here to see the story and learn some tips to protect yourself.

Whistleblower Connection

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If you have specific evidence a company is defrauding the government, contact the James Hoyer Law Firm. As a whistleblower, you can file a legal action in the government’s name to recover money for taxpayers.